Tacoma  is  the  third  largest  city  in  Washington  state  with  a  popula6on  of  about  200,000.  The  metropolitan  area  is  home  to  over  3.5  million  people  and  includes  SeaAle,  Tacoma,  and  Olympia.  The  city  of  Tacoma,  located  on  Puget  Sound  in  the  heart  of  the  Pacific  Northwest's  "evergreen  playground,"  has  nearly  66  miles  of  shoreline  and  many  parks,  including  Point  Defiance  Park  with  a  world-­‐class  zoo  and  aquarium.  SeaAle,  ocean  beaches  and  mountains  are  within  easy  driving  distance.  The  port  of  Tacoma  covers  more  than  2,400  acres.  It  is  the  6th  largest  port  in  North  America.  Two  railroads  and  15  steamship  lines  are  serviced  from  this  port.  "The  Tacoma  Dome  hosts  sports  and  entertainment  ac6vi6es,  and  Cheney  Stadium  is  home  to  a  professional  AAA  baseball  team.  People  of  all  ages  enjoy  numerous  museums,  such  as  the  Washington  State  Historical  Museum,  the  Tacoma  Art  Museum  and  the  Museum  of  Glass;  theater  produc6ons;  art  galleries;  a  fine  library  system;  musical  entertainment;  and  many  local  events.  Tacoma  also  has  several  universi6es:  the  University  of  Puget  Sound,  Pacific  Lutheran  University  and  the  University  of  Washington  Tacoma.    "ExchangeMate  USA  places  students   in  Tacoma  Public  Schools   (5  schools).  The  city’s  mild,  temperate  marine  climate  allows  year-­‐round  outdoor  recrea6on,  including  walking,  cycling,  hiking,  skiing,  snowboarding,  kayaking,  rock  climbing,  motor  boa6ng,  sailing,  team  sports,  and  swimming.  SeaAle  is  known  as  the  “Rainy  City”  but  its  annual  rainfall  is  less  than  many  other  US  ci6es,  such  as  Houston,  Chicago  and  New  York  City.  This  whole  area  is  very  nice,  there  are  great  neighborhoods  and  amazing  quality  of  life.  It's  a  very  fun  city  with  great  schools  and  lots  of  things  to  do.  ""

FUN  FACTS  "• SeaAle  was  the  first  city  in  the  US  to  play  a  Beatles  song  on  the  radio.  

• The  first  Starbucks  was  opened  in  SeaAle.    

• The  Tacoma  Narrows  Bridge  is  the  fifh  longest  suspension  bridge  in  the  world.    

• The  SeaAle  Public  Library  system  has  the  highest  percentage  of  library  card-­‐holders  per  capita  in  the  country.  • Several   movies   have   used   SeaAle   and   Tacoma   as   their   segng,   such   as:   Rose   Red,   Enough,   Preston   Tylk,   Get   Carter,  Prefountaine,  10  Things  I  Hate  About  You,  Countdown,  Born  to  be  Wild,  The  Hand  that  Rocks  the  Cradle,  I  Love  You  to  Death,  Wai6ng  for  the  Light,    Come  See  the  Paradise,  Chips  the  War  Dog  and  Three  Fugi6ves.  

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Henry  Foss  High  School  was  the  first  school  in  Washington  State  to  introduce  the  Interna6onal  Baccalaureate  Program.  The  school  currently   offers   IB   courses   in   15   different   areas,   including   Biology,   Chemistry,   Language,  Math,  Music   Theory,   Physics,   History,  Psychology  and   the  Visual  Arts.   In   addi6on,  Henry   Foss  boasts   a   full-­‐range  of   academic  offerings   that   include   several  Business  Educa6on  courses,  Nutri6on,  Health.  Robo6cs,  Wood  Tech,  Air  Force  JROTC  and  many  more.  Henry  Foss  World  School  has  a  rich  ethnic  diversity  and  a  sense  of  family  between  staff  and  students.   Its  mission  is  to  transform  tradi6onal  programs  into  dynamic  opportuni6es  to  educate  all  students.  "Number  of  Students:  1060  Grades:  9  -­‐12  Mascot:  Falcons  School  colors:  Green,  Gold  and  White  Foreign  Languages:  French,  Korean,  Russian  and  Spanish.  Fine  Arts:  Band.  Choir/Chorus,  Orchestra,  Jazz  Band,  Theater,  Arts,  Glass  Art,  Ceramics,  PoAery,  Pain6ng  and  Drawing,    Sports:   Basketball,  Baseball,   Football,  Volleyball,   Soccer,   Sofball,  Golf,  Diving,   Track  and  Field,  Cheerleading,  Water  Polo,  Cross  Country,  Swimming  and  Wrestling.  School  website:  www.tacoma.k12.wa.us/sites/schools/foss/Pages/default.aspx  

HENRY  FOSS  HIGH  SCHOOL

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sAge  requirement:  14  to  18  years  old  

ESOL/ESL  classes:  No  

Sports:  Yes    

12th  grade  students:  Yes  

GraduaJon:  Yes  

Semester  Program:  Yes  

"Tacoma  Public  Schools  (TPS)  is  the  third  largest  district  in  Washington  State  serving  more  than  28,000  children  in  kindergarten  through  grade  12.  The  district  has  35  elementary  schools,  9  middle  schools,  5  comprehensive  high  schools  and  14  alterna6ve  learning  sites.  TPS  has  more  than  3,500  employees  and  is  one  of  the  largest  employers  in  the  city.  Tacoma  is  an  outstanding  school  district  in  which  all  students   exhibit   high   standards   of   achievement   and   cri6cal   thinking   skills,   and   are   socially  responsible,  contribu6ng  members  of  their  community.  In  2012,  Tacoma  Public  Schools  was  named  the  state’s  first-­‐ever  and  only  district-­‐wide  Innova6on  Zone  for  educa6on.  

""

Designed   in  a  classical  Collegiate  Gothic   style,   Lincoln  High  School   is  a  model  of   the  modern,  mul6cultural  urban  high  school.  Lincoln  High  School  was  a  recipient  of  a  2010  Washington  Achievement  Award  from  the  Office  of  Public  Instruc6on  and  the  State  Board  of  Educa6on  based  on  exemplary   student  growth  and   school   improvement.   In   the   last  decade  Lincoln  High  School  has  achieved  a  remarkable  renaissance  in  teaching  and  school  programs.    A  once  dormant  drama  department  now  features  annual  produc6ons  and  an  award-­‐winning  culinary-­‐arts  program  regularly  bests  similar  programs  in  the  region.  Lincoln  High  is  a  school-­‐within-­‐a-­‐school  that  features  a  rigorous,  college-­‐ready  curriculum  and  strong  emphasis  on  character  building.    "Number  of  Students:  1380  Grades:  9  -­‐12  Mascot:  Abes  School  colors:  Black  &  Gold  Foreign  Languages  Chinese,  French,  Japanese  and  Spanish.  Fine  Arts:  Computer  Graphics,  Glass  Art,  Printmaking,  Pain6ng,  Drawing,  Drama,  Theater  Produc6on,  Choir,  Orchestra,  Piano  Lab,  Percussion,  Symphonic  Band  and  Photography.    Sports:   Baseball,   Basketball,   Bowling,   Cheerleading,   Cross   Country,   Football,   Golf,   Soccer,   Sofball,   Swimming,   Tennis,   Track  &  Field,  Volleyball,  Water  Polo  and  Wrestling.  School  website:  www.lincolnabes.org   "

"""Built   in   1961,   the   segng   of  Mount   Tahoma  High   School   dras6cally   changed   in   September   2004  when   the   new   building  was  completed.   The   design   included   an   effec6ve   use   of   daylight,   natural   ven6la6on   and   quality   acous6cs   to   enhance   the   indoor  learning  environment.   In  addi6on  to  the  new  buildings,  the  construc6on  project  added  new  high-­‐quality  athle6c  facili6es.  The  crowning   jewel  among  those  was  the  new  football  stadium,  which  seats  more  than  5,000  spectators,  and  has  become  a  go-­‐to  site  to  host  high  school  athle6c  events  in  and  around  the  Pierce  County  area.    

Number  of  Students:  1480  Grades:  9  -­‐12  Mascot:  Thunderbird  School  colors:  Cardinal,  White  and  Gold  Foreign  Languages:  French,  Korean  and  Spanish.  Fine  Arts:  Choir,  Chorus,  Dance,  Drama,  TV  Produc6on,  Computer  Graphics,  Ceramics,  Glass  Art,  Photography,  Pain6ng,  Drawing,  Arts,  Theater,  Band,  Guitar,  Orchestra,  Jazz  Band  and  Music  History.    Sports:  Football,  Soccer,  Tennis,  Volleyball,  Swimming,  Cross  Country,  Basketball,  Bowling,  Wrestling,  Golf,  Track  and  Field,  Water  Polo,  Baseball  and  Fast  Pitch.  School  website:  www.mAahomathunderbirds.org  

LINCOLN  HIGH  SCHOOL

MOUNT  TAHOMA  HIGH  SCHOOL

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"""Stadium  High  School  is  located  in  the  Stadium  District,  near  downtown  Tacoma.  Construc6on  began  in  1891  with  the  inten6on  of  building  a  luxury  hotel  resembling  a  French  château.  In  2005-­‐2006  the  school  underwent  a  major  renova6on,  seismic  upgrade,  historical  restora6on,  and  expansion.  The  centennial  celebra6on  of  Stadium  High  School  was  held  on  September  2006  and  was  aAended  by  3299  alumni,  segng  a  Guinness  World  Record  for  the  largest  recorded  school  reunion.  "Number  of  Students:  1620  Grades:  9  -­‐12  Mascot:  Tiger  School  colors:  Royal  Blue  and  Gold  Foreign  Languages:  French  German,  Japanese  and  Spanish.  Fine   Arts:   Glass   Art,   Computer   Graphic,   Printmaking,   Graphic   Design,   Ceramics,   Theater,   Chorus,   Orchestra,   Jazz   Band,  Percussion,  Symphonic  Band,  Music  Theory  and  Photography.    Sports:  Football,  Soccer,  Basketball,  Bowling,  Track  and  Field,  Cross  Country,  Tennis,  Golf,  Baseball,  Sofball,  Wrestling,  Swimming  and  Volleyball.    School  website:  www.stadium6gers.org  

STADIUM  HIGH  SCHOOL

""Wilson  High  School  was  built  in  1958  and  opened  a  new  addi6on  in  September  2006,  which  contains  state-­‐of-­‐the-­‐art  classrooms  and  science   labs,  a  new  library,  business  educa6on  classes,  an  expanded  Associated  Student  Body  complex,  the  Career  Center  and   Guidance   and   administra6ve   offices.  Wilson   is   one   of   very   few   high   schools   in   the   country   with   a   fully   equipped   glass  blowing   hot   shop.   In   2011,   2012,   and   2013,   Wilson   was   named   a   "School   of   Dis6nc6on"   by   the   Center   for   Educa6onal  Effec6veness   in  recogni6on  of   its  students'  drama6c   improvements   in  reading  and  math.  Wilson   is  the  only  high  school   in  the  state  to  earn  this  honor  more  than  once.  "Number  of  Students:  1400  Grades:  9  -­‐12  Mascot:  Rams  School  colors:  Red,  White  and  Blue  Foreign  Languages  French,  Japanese  and  Spanish.  Fine   Arts:   Computer   Graphics,   Ceramics,   Photography,   Pain6ng,   Drawing,   Arts,   Visual   Arts,   Modern   Dance,   Glass   Art,   Band,  Guitar,  Choir,  Chorus,  Jazz  Band,  Jazz  Choir,  Music  Theory,  Orchestra,  Percussion  and  Symphonic  Band.  Sports:   Football,   Soccer,   Basketball,   Track   and   Field,   Cross   Country,   Bowling,   Cheerleading,   Tennis,   Golf,   Baseball,   Fast   Pitch,  Wrestling,  Swimming,  Water  Polo  and  Volleyball.  School  website:  www.wilsonrams.org  

WOODROW  WILSON  HIGH  SCHOOL

HIGH  SCHOOL  PROGRAM  USA

TACOMA  -­‐  WASHINGTON

ExchangeMate  USA  -­‐  www.exchangemateusa.com  -­‐  info@exchangemateusa.com